Pat McDonald (shot putter)

Patrick Joseph McDonald (born McDonnell; July 29, 1878 – May 16, 1954) was born in Doonbeg, County Clare, Ireland. He competed as an American track and field athlete in a variety of the throwing events.[2] He was a member of the Irish American Athletic Club and of the New York City Police Department, working as a traffic cop in Times Square for many years. He was part of a group of Irish-American athletes known as the "Irish Whales."

Pat McDonald
McDonald in 1912
Personal information
Nickname(s)Babe[1]
BornJuly 26, 1878
Killard, County Clare, Ireland
DiedMay 16, 1954(1954-05-16) (aged 75)
New York, New York, United States
Height6 ft 2.5 in (1.89 m)
Weight265 lb (120 kg)
Medal record
Men's athletics
Representing the  United States
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1912 StockholmShot put
Gold medal – first place 1920 Antwerp56 lb weight throw
Silver medal – second place 1912 StockholmTwo handed shot put
Updated on 30 July 2015.

Biography
The tombstone of Pat McDonald in Gate of Heaven Cemetery
Pat McDonald Memorial at White Strand, Doonbeg, County Clare, Ireland

He competed for the United States in the 1912 Summer Olympics held in Stockholm, Sweden in the shot put where he won the gold medal. He also took part in the shot put (both hands) competition where the distance thrown with each hand was added together. This was the only time this event was held in the Olympic program, and McDonald finished second behind teammate Ralph Rose who had finished second to him in the shot competition.

McDonald returned 8 years later after World War I to compete in the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp, Belgium. Here he won the gold medal in the 56 lb weight throw in the second and final time this competition was held in the Olympic program.

Pat McDonald died in 1954 at age 75[1] and was interred at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Hawthorne, New York.

He was inducted into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame in 2012.

See also

References
  1. "Pat McDonald". sports-reference.com. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
  2. "Pat McDonald". Olympedia. Retrieved 28 April 2021.

Sources
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